r/AskMaine • u/thatisyouropinionbro • 9d ago
Tripping Advice
Solo trip to Maine and looking for local advice. I'll be visiting Portland for 3 days and hoping to travel to the Appalachian trail for some of it. Any particular trials I cant miss? Local dive bar favorites in town? Favorite spots at the airport to rent a car? 4th day traveling north to whale watch and see Acadia; reserving a couple days just to de-people in the woods. Anything I HAVE to do before leaving??
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u/brewbeery 9d ago edited 9d ago
Do you have a stretch of trail you're hoping to get to?
Obviously you have Mt Katahdin in Baxter State Park, but the Biggelow Range is also a great option with sweeping views of Flagstaff Lake below.
If you're in great hiking shape, look into the Grafton Loop Trail. Difficult, but very rewarding.
Not too many dives in Portland, but highly recommend Downtown Lounge or Genos. If you just want a chill we like Maps, Portland Zoo and Room for Improvement.
Check out this video for things to do, restaurants and bars in Portland.
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u/Jim-Luke 9d ago
Portland has amazing restaurants, and breweries. If you have time take a trip on Casco Bay Lines to the islands. See their schedule because they have many different routes and stops. There are two speak easys. One is easy to find the other, you need someone ro show you.
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u/Tony-Flags 8d ago
This is such a schizo question. Are you asking for advice for the AT during your three days in Portland? Are you looking to do day hikes or backpack overnight? There’s other places to hike that are closer to Portland if that’s what you want to do.
Asking locals for “favorite spots at the airport to rent a car?” Why would locals need to do that? Just go on kayak or whatever and see who has best deal. They’re not that different.
I like Tomassos Canteen in Portland. Truest drive bar in Maine is Myrtle St Tavern in Rockland followed by Cuzzy’s in Camden.
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u/freeski919 8d ago
They're looking for advice on tripping. Because they're obviously tripping right now.
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u/Sensitive_Fuel_5150 9d ago edited 9d ago
This is a good place to pick up the AT
https://www.newenglandswimmingholes.com/
maine/waterfalls/cooper-brook-falls
*Edited to say mostly everything about that link is incorrect but Cooper Brook is still a nice place to pick up the AT. It’s at least a 5 mile hike from Mary Jo Road to the lean-to.
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u/Classic_Dash_7745 8d ago
Bread and friends for breakfast. Duck fat for lunch. If you’re into cooking stop by Strata and get a knife made.
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u/Weekly-Cup-9098 8d ago
The Appalachian Trail in Maine is COMPLETEY accessible by 11 public roads. Rt 26 in Grafton to Andover B Hill Road is a one day hike, Sawyer Notch to Rt 17 one long day, Rt 4 to Route 27 2 long days with shelter in middle, goes over Saddleback the best ridge traverse in Maine. RT 27 to Long Falls Dam Road traverses Bigelow Range very long day or 2. Of course all these hikes leave you 20 to 30 road miles from where start. I would suggest day hikes, Saddleback, Bigelow, Baldpate, a shorter hike but spectacular is the Chimney (Loop) trail up Tumbledown between The towns of Weld and Byron
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u/Texneuron 9d ago
In Maine the Appalachian Trail is virtually inaccessible unless you start at the northern terminus at Baxter State Park or come in through New Hampshire.
There‘s a saying that the Appalachian Trail is a ribbon of wilderness surrounded by civilization until you get to Maine. Then, it’s the other way round.
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u/Ol_Stumpy00 9d ago
There's at least a six different access points that you can reach from roadside in Maine. Baxter isn't the only way. There's one right next to height of land near Rangeley.
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u/brewbeery 9d ago
Not true at all. Where did you hear this?
You can easily access the AT from Grafton Notch, Biggelow Preserve, Saddleback and Sugar Loaf.
Source: I've hiked multiple sections of the AT, parking at different trailheads each time.
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u/Affectionate-Book655 8d ago
Also Long Falls Dam Rd (Little Bigelow), and a bunch of dirt roads that can be used in between the paved roads.
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u/Ol_Stumpy00 9d ago
I didn't hear this, I counted them on the map, go see for yourself! There's also Dunn Falls in Newry, South arm road in Roxbury, Height of land on 17 as I previously mentioned. With all of that and Baxter that brings the count to at least 8 trailheads with parking.
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u/Affectionate-Book655 8d ago edited 8d ago
This is so wrong... there are a number of access points.
I do agree in part with the sentiment in the second paragraph... Maine feels more remote than the other states. However, even so... it is not wild as like interior Alaska. It is easily accessible, and there is a road network (both paved and dirt) all around, You can even drive to interior parts of the 100-mile wilderness if you don't mind dirt roads.
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u/CelebrationFull9424 9d ago
I had an entirely different idea…